Today is the very last day to get into contract in order to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit.

My phone line is open and I am sitting in front of the computer. Today is the very last day to get into contract in order to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit. Contact me if you want to write up an offer that you've been sleeping on. Just NO SHORT SALES. They will never close before June 30th.

First-Time Homebuyer Info from the IRS

10 Tips for Water Conservation

I love when "green" tips appear in unexpected places - it exposes more people to this great conservation information when they might least expect it but might be most receptive to reading it.

From today's Realty Times.

10 Tips for Water Conservation
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As warm weather makes it way across the nation, sprinklers come out of hibernation and return to their full time positions, pools fill up, and many a garden hose sees daylight for the first time in months.

Full Story

Hard Times for HOAs Could Mean Fewer Home Sales Due to Delinquent Fees

From today's Realty Times

At a time when many homeowners are walking away from their homes and letting them be foreclosed on, others who are hanging in there may be racking up delinquencies by not paying their Homeowners Association Fees which ultimately hurts not only the HOA but also the entire development and its owners.

Full Story

GreenSpaces TV: Earth Day Report

GreenSpacesTV — April 22, 2010 — A visit to the new location of Elliott Bay Book Store, 2 doors down from NuBe Green, sparks an Earth Day mini-shopping trip. NuBe Green was on "Sisters of Sizzle" radio yesterday and offered a free organic cotton NuBe t-shirt to the first 10 people who came to the store and mentioned the radio show - and a 20% off coupon. I finally get the "Home Green Home" pillow I first spotted when visiting the store in March.

At Elliott Bay Book Store I picked up two books that will grow my mind and expand my education: "Green Metropolis" and "A Passion for this Earth" a book of essays by several authors.

Happy Earth Day and it's the 3rd anniversary of this blog!

There is so much happening today - all week and month really - that I am not spending much time in front of the computer. But I wanted to acknowledge three years of writing about green spaces and homes in the Seattle area on my web site.

Recently I re-focused my blog to more real estate and less green lifestyle information because I thought the real estate information was getting too diluted. I solved the problem of my fascination about new gadgets, fashions, and all other things eco-friendly by launching a Facebook page called Westside Green Living with Wendy. Here I can go to town about all of that stuff that you green real estate folks may not necessarily be interested in.

And if you miss the green lifestyle information head on over to my new page since you will find a lot of information shared there, along with original video productions.

Have a wonderful day, week, month and Earth Year!

Newcastle Goes Green this Saturday

Newcastle Goes Green on Saturday April 24th at Lake Boren Park from 10a-4p
With free recycling, mini‐seminars on earth friendly topics, trail walks, kids activities and more, and music by the Boeing Concert Band.

Newcastle Weed Warriors has teamed up with Trails at Newcastle and Newcastle Chamber of Commerce to offer a Saturday in the Park full of musical entertainment from the Boeing Concert Band; informative mini‐educational seminars from regional experts; business and environmental organization’s booths featuring green products and services; and family friendly activities throughout the day.

The following Schedule has been established:
10a-4p Kid activities and mini-seminars at Lake Boren Park
12p BBQ at Trails at Newcastle (on the north side of Coal Creek Parkway adjacent to the Park)
1p-2:30p Boeing Concert Band performs
2p Trail walks on nearby trails.

List of mini-seminars (approx. 12 minutes/session)
10:30 Green Surfaces for Your Home
11:00 Best Native & Low Care Plants
11:00 Understanding Built Green, Energy Star or LEED Certified Homes
11:30 Rainwater Harvesting: Be Cistern Savy
11:30 Connection between Salmon and Food Scraps
12:00 Tips to Reduce Energy Usage in your Home
12:30 Creating a Greener Landscape
1:00 Impact the World with Your Minor “Green” Changes
1:30 Puget Sound Starts Here In Newcastle
2:00 Steps to Successful and Sustainable Landscapes
2:30 Anatomy of a Rain Garden
3:00 Top 10 Green Remodel Products
3:30 Wildlife in Newcastle
3:00 Common Invasive Weeds
3:30 Solar 101 for Puget Sound

The Newcastle Weed Warriors is a local non‐profit organization of volunteers that works with the City of Newcastle to reduce the negative impact of invasive and noxious weeds in Newcastle’s parks,
trails and open spaces.

Trails at Newcastle is a planned Built Green Certified Community of 32 homes with a community common house, organic gardens and trails adjacent to Lake Boren Park on the north side of Coal Creek Parkway.

The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce has a mission of preserving the competitive enterprise system of business and promoting business and community growth and development.

One Green Planet is offering recycling services as a fund raiser for Newcastle Elementary School PTSA. A few of the participating organizations include Puget Sound Energy, Waste Management, Washington State Department of Ecology, The Sustainability Foundation, City of Newcastle, King County Libraries, Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, Newcastle Historical Society, Newcastle Elementary School PTSA, Hazen High Earth Corp Club, and One Green Planet. In addition, there are numerous local nurseries, health-related businesses, appliance, design and home design/contractors participating.

For More information please contact:
· Brenda Nunes, Trails at Newcastle p: (425) 785‐6286 email Brenda@trailsatnewcastle.com
· Grace Stiller, Newcastle Weed Warriors p: (425) 228‐7927 email gracestiller@comcast.net

Real Estate Outlook: Faster Recovery?

From today's Realty Times

Real Estate Outlook: Faster Recovery?

It's been a long time since we've seen the Wall Street Journal run a front-page article suggesting that the national economy appears to be rebounding faster than most analysts forecast.

Full Story

Why the old way was the best way

My husband has taken up an interesting hobby in the last year - collecting vintage razors and brushes, restoring them, and then using them for the best shave ever. Our generation's men really lost out by our parent's generation introduction to electric razors and plastic disposables. The original razors - straight or safety, really are the best environmental choice. The blades cost about 10 cents each as opposed to a pack of 5 triple blade refills costing about $9. The blades are recyclable (safety) or sharpenable (straight).

Steve's collection took over the library so I bought him a glass door cabinet for the guest bathroom. He's joined several forums, and recently shot a video demonstrating a particular kind of razor called a "Rolls Razor" that comes in a case with a special sharpener. Some of the blades and brushes he has bought and restored he has then re-sold, so his hobby pays for itself and I can't complain.

I am going to encourage him to do a video shaving with a straight since I think people will be even more fascinated by that. This video below got 160 hits in less than a day. I wish my videos were as popular!

Oh, and he restored a neat brush for me, including varnishing the wodden handle (like a boat!), and I use a pink 1960s Lady Gillette safety razor.

Here is the video and what he wrote in his own blog, It's a Guy Thing.

My first shaving video...
No sound, nothing really fancy, just a simple demonstration of shaving with a “Rolls Razor“. Shave Review had stated the he couldn’t get a decent shave with one, and when I said it wasn’t hard, he wanted a picture… So I gave him one.

The trick is to sharpen the blade as you would any other straight razor, using your progression of hones. It really is just a straight on a stick, after all. The stropping action in the case is fine, takes a while because of how short the stroke is, but it works. I just don’t think the hone is fine enough to give it a very good edge.

So, here it is, my first ever shaving video…

West Seattle real estate update (for sale and for rent)

There are 57 residential and 40 condominium listings priced $235,000 or less in West Seattle (Area 140) including a brand new HOUSEBOAT on the Duwamish in South Park that can be moved or left where it is (only $95,000).

See West Seattle homes and condos under $235,000



There are 80 homes/comdos priced between $235,001 and $275,000, great FIRST TIME BUYER price points. 61 homes and 19 condos.

See West Seattle homes and condos priced $235,001-$275,000



Of course I can customize a search for your specifically given your needs. I can also help you or your friends find a new home TO RENT.

See West Seattle homes For Rent (there are 20 currently listed)



Have a great weekend and let me know how I can help YOU!

Quick Friday update: High Point Built Green Certified homes and condos for sale in West Seattle

As the self-titled "resident green agent" in High Point, I wanted to give a quick update - the Spring Rush is on in West Seattle and there are some very nice townhomes, condos, and even a carriage home for sale.

See High Point West Seattle Homes For Sale.

Some homes currently being marketed for sale require lender approval (short sale). Ask for details.


What makes High Point so great?
Well, first of all, it is in West Seattle. I have lived in West Seattle since 1997. And I won't leave. It has everything I need so I don't actually have to leave at all, which is nice. And for when I do want to pop downtown for a night out, pick up someone at the airport, or go mall-hopping at Southcenter, all of that is within 15 minutes (using the West Seattleites travel tips, which I am happy to share).

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to buy a brand new home in a Built Green Certified Community right in my own neighborhood. I lived within a mile of this location for ten years, and watched the development of this community over that time with great interest. When I took a property tour in April 2007 I wasn't looking for a new home and had no intention of moving - but what I found in High Point made me put my house on the market almost immediately, and the sale of our home on 18th Ave SW and the purchase of our townhome on SW Raymond all managed to squeek through right at the beginning of the real estate market fallout. We feel lucky that we managed to get moved and settled without any hassle.

The utilities are underground so the views are not impeded by anything...but trees. And I like trees. The old trees in High Point were saved during redevelopment and they *make* this neighborhood. There are great views of downtown, sunrise, sunset, trails in the woods, access to Camp Long and the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail all within walking distance.

For the developer-identified benefits of living in High Point in West Seattle, check out these High Point Highlights.

If you are considering a move to West Seattle...
Call me. Or email me. Or send me a message on Facebook or Twitter. I know the Westside inside and out and can answer any questions you may have about what it is like living here. Just know you will get biased answers - because it is clear that I love it here and don't see why anyone would want to move!

And check out my cool new page on Facebook, Westside Green Living with Wendy.


The listing links are only good for 30 days from the date of this post.

Tasteful updates in this contemporary bi-level home near Mill Creek will surprise and delight! Stop by my Open House Thursday 11 AM to 2 PM

I am marketing a great home for sale in the NE Mill Creek/SE Everett area. This contemporary bi-level home on a near 1/4 acre lot surprises!

Updated tastefully with new countertops, newer appliances, thoughtful cabinetry, two updated baths (including a split dual vanity with a 2nd sink in the master bedroom). There are two large wood burning fireplaces. The main level has a large living room, dining area and kitchen, three bedrooms and a full bathroom (plus the extra vanity!) The lower level has a huge family room, large mechanical/utility/storage room, nicely updated 3/4 bath and laundry nook.

The home is situated on a large corner lot, with a fully fenced yard. The owner has carefully maintained pesticide free gardening areas, and there are outbuildings, a large back deck & new concrete parking pad for 5+ cars, plus a garage that might fit 2 cars tandem if the shop counters were removed.

The seller has remodeled for over a year and this home is ready for its new family! I am holding a Broker and Public Open House on Thursday, 11 am to 2 pm at 13230 54th Avenue SE / Everett. Stop by and say hi! Free "gallon of gas" to the first 10 agents who complete my market survey!

Last chance for the homebuyer tax credit

To take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit for new buyers, and the $6,500 tax credit for move up buyers, you MUST be under contract to purchase no later than April 30, 2010. So you have only two weeks to find a home and get under contract.

You have until July 1st to close.

Call me at 206.686.HOME (4663) to discuss further.

Top 10 Home Buying Mistakes

There are lots of Top 10 lists for home buyers, but they can't be repeated enough.

Here's one from yesterday's Realty Times

Just one home buying mistake could mean disaster -- perhaps the worst mistake you'll ever make. Get to know the most common home buying mistakes. To know them is to avoid them.

Full Story

Westside Green Living: Let's Talk About Personal Hygiene and Organic Hair Color

Wendy goes on record for being a huge fan of Bambu Organic Salon in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. Her real estate office and the salon used to be next door to each other but both businesses relocated in 2009.

Wendy tells why she began to have her hair color foiled and then talks about the benefits of training your hair to need less washing (use less water, less product, hair color lasts longer, and SAVE TIME).




More information:
Bambu Organic Salon on the web, and Facebook

You can watch a video about Organic Color System on YouTube.

Westside Green Living Discovers "Greener Clean"

Wendy makes a cleaning supply run to Target and discovers 3M Scotch Brite has come out with a "Greener Clean" product line.